To add a connection

  1. Start the ADO.NET Connection Editor.
  2. From the Settings Menu icon (Settings) menu, set each option as required to define the new connection. For a description of each option, see Settings menu.
  3. Click Add to start the Add an ADO.NET Connection wizard.
  4. Click Next.
  5. Type a data source name into the Data Source Name field; then click Next.
  6. Do one of the following to filter the list on the .NET Data Providers grid:
    • To view only the catalogued ADO.NET data providers, select Preferred Providers.
    • To view both the catalogued ADO.NET and ODBC data providers, select All Providers.
  7. Select the data provider that you want to use; then click Next.

    Depending on your provider selection, the wizard progresses to the Provider Connection Details, ODBC Data Providers, or OLE DB Data Providers page.

  8. For .NET providers, continue to the next step. For ODBD and OLE DB providers, do one of the following:
    • For ODBC providers, select an ODBC DSN on the ODBC DSNs list; then click Next.
    • For OLE DB providers, select an OLE DB provider from the list; then click Next.
  9. On the Provider Connection Details page, specify additional connection settings or modify default connection settings as required; then click Next.
    Note: Depending on the selected provider, this page shows all or some of the available connection settings including those required to connect. You can adjust all connection settings from the main window of the ADO.NET Connection Editor. See the context help located at the bottom of the main window for a description of each setting.
  10. Review your connection settings; then click Finish to create and catalog the connection.
  11. On the ADO.NET Connection Editor main window, adjust connection settings values as appropriate for your environment. Optional.
  12. Click Test to test your connection. Optional.
    Note: Alternatively, right-click the connection and select Test Connection from the context menu.
  13. Close the ADO.NET Connection Editor.